Rock Paper Shotgun Helldivers 2 Feed

enFri, 13 Dec 2024 12:00:00 +0000The RPS Advent Calendar 2024, December 13thhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/the-rps-advent-calendar-2024-december-13thRPSFri, 13 Dec 2024 12:00:00 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/the-rps-advent-calendar-2024-december-13thShooterThe RPS Advent Calendar 2024Multiplayer CompetitiveSingle PlayerHelldivers 2Science FictionPCArrowhead Game StudiosMultiplayer CooperativeThird personComedyPS5

Would you like to know more? Open the door and earn your citizenship today.

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Helldivers 2's update adds the dreaded Illuminate faction, plus city maps and bouncy jeepshttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2s-update-adds-the-dreaded-illuminate-faction-plus-city-maps-and-bouncy-jeepsEd ThornFri, 13 Dec 2024 02:35:22 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2s-update-adds-the-dreaded-illuminate-faction-plus-city-maps-and-bouncy-jeepsShooterThe Game Awards 2024Multiplayer CompetitiveSingle PlayerHelldivers 2The Game AwardsScience FictionPCArrowhead Game StudiosMultiplayer CooperativeThird personComedyPS5

Arrowhead and Sony have released a new Helldivers 2 update that introduces the long-rumoured third faction, the Illuminate. Titled Omens of Tyranny, the update also stirs in city maps and a driveable jeep with a mounted gun that immediately reminds me of Halo's Warthog, and is hopefully just as fragile and bouncy. Here's a trailer.

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Helldivers 2 boss would "love to do a take" on Star Wars, Predator and Warhammer 40,000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-boss-would-love-to-do-a-take-on-star-wars-predator-and-warhammer-40000Edwin Evans-ThirlwellThu, 07 Nov 2024 10:31:49 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-boss-would-love-to-do-a-take-on-star-wars-predator-and-warhammer-40000ShooterMultiplayer CompetitiveSingle PlayerHelldivers 2Science FictionPCArrowhead Game StudiosMultiplayer CooperativeThird personComedyPS5

The dominion of hated Super Earth threatens to expand afresh as Arrowhead CEO Johan Pilestedt toys openly with the prospect of Helldivers 2 cross-over games, beginning with tabletop wargame Trench Crusade and extending to, well, take your pick. Arrowhead's appetite for other licenses appears insatiable. It's the kind of sheer expansionism you'd expect from Earth's loathsome regime, whose "managed democracy" propaganda continues to enthrall thousands of hapless disposable imperialists. Pilestedt even wants to make a Fifth Element game! Milla Jovovich is spinning in her grave. Milla Jovovich isn't dead, you say? Well, that's good news at least.

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You're now much stronger against tanks and armour in Helldivers 2, as Arrowhead patch for "more versatile" tacticshttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/youre-now-much-stronger-against-tanks-and-armour-in-helldivers-2-as-arrowhead-patch-for-more-versatile-tacticsNic ReubenWed, 18 Sep 2024 08:14:15 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/youre-now-much-stronger-against-tanks-and-armour-in-helldivers-2-as-arrowhead-patch-for-more-versatile-tacticsShooterMultiplayer CompetitiveSingle PlayerHelldivers 2Science FictionPCArrowhead Game StudiosMultiplayer CooperativeThird personComedyPS5

Last month, Helldivers 2 studio Arrowhead thrust a white flag out from their shelled position in an attempt to placate mutinous fans of the co-op shooter. In response to a community sentiment best summed up by a popular Reddit post titled “Let the super earth burn”, Arrowhead released a statement. “In short, we didn’t hit our target with the latest update…what matters most now is action. Not talk.” Said action (which, it must be pointed out, felt a bit troublingly reactive to the loudest and most histrionic voices in the roo..uh, subreddit) was foreshadowed in a list of issues to be tackled over the coming months.

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We should redefine live service games as the living deadhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/we-should-redefine-live-service-games-as-the-living-deadEdwin Evans-ThirlwellTue, 17 Sep 2024 14:37:14 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/we-should-redefine-live-service-games-as-the-living-deadMultiplayer CompetitiveXbox OneDestinyMMORPGComedyBungieShooterActivisionFirst personXbox 360Arrowhead Game StudiosPCThird personRPGSingle PlayerMultiplayer CooperativePS5Helldivers 2PS3Science FictionActivision BlizzardPS4

Why is every blockbuster video game now some kind of live service game? Speaking as a clueless idiot, the explanation I find most convincing is that it's an attempt to bridge the gap between the returns publishers want from video games, versus how much we're able or willing to pay upfront. "Triple-A" projects now cost exorbitant sums to develop, partly thanks to wider economic inflation, but also because publishers have spent decades teaching players that every sequel has to be More and Shinier. Premium game prices have not risen in proportion, and investors want growth, as they do.

Live service games sneak around this difficulty by dragging out the time we spend playing them. Whether premium or free-to-play, they seek to install themselves as habits by means of regular, planned updates and additions. This is time that can be monetised by way of a subscription model, time in which other products may be sold to you, like skins and paintjobs, and time that becomes a commodity in itself, "engagement", which can be transmuted and exploited to various end. I'm not sure it's ever been expressed this way in any press release boast about longevity, but the unspoken principle/logical extrapolation seems to be that ideally, a live service game should keep us plugged in and plugging away till we die.

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Helldivers 2 is getting "significant changes" in September, as Arrowhead take inspiration from "player fantasies"https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-is-getting-significant-changes-in-september-as-arrowhead-take-inspiration-from-player-fantasiesEd ThornFri, 06 Sep 2024 10:50:53 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-is-getting-significant-changes-in-september-as-arrowhead-take-inspiration-from-player-fantasiesShooterMultiplayer CompetitiveSingle PlayerHelldivers 2Science FictionPCArrowhead Game StudiosMultiplayer CooperativeThird personComedyPS5

Not too long ago, Arrowhead dropped a vague list of improvements coming to Helldivers 2, as they admitted "inconsistencies" in their "approach to game balance and direction". They've now published another blog post that torches the vagueness of the previous post with the righteously democratic flames of specificity. Overhauls to enemies are on the way, less-loved guns will be more effective, reworks to armor penetration and health values are on the boil, and they're taking inspiration from "player fantasies" for certain weapons and stratagems. All of these tweaks are set to go live on the 17th September, so not long to wait.

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Sightings of Helldivers 2 Illuminate faction on Galactic War map are "fake news", says Arrowhead bosshttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/sightings-of-helldivers-2-illuminate-faction-on-galactic-war-map-are-fake-news-says-arrowhead-bossEdwin Evans-ThirlwellThu, 05 Sep 2024 10:44:32 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/sightings-of-helldivers-2-illuminate-faction-on-galactic-war-map-are-fake-news-says-arrowhead-bossShooterMultiplayer CompetitiveSingle PlayerHelldivers 2PCArrowhead Game StudiosMultiplayer CooperativeThird personPS5

Helldivers 2's third enemy faction is maybe definitely possibly probably almost certainly about to be released, as players report sightings of the mysterious menace on the game's Galactic War map. Development studio Arrowhead, aka the glorious government of Super Earth, are downplaying the rumours as usual. They're claiming (via in-game broadcast) that the fleeting appearance of a weird purple blob on the map screen is actually the result of fluids leaking from the corpse of a long-dead comms technician, stranded on a server farm somewhere. Who to believe? Ah, if only we had some means of shedding light on the reports. Some way of Illuminating the situation.

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Arrowhead emerge with a bullet-pointed peace offering to pacify mutinous Helldivers 2 playershttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/arrowhead-emerge-with-a-bullet-pointed-peace-offering-to-pacify-mutinous-helldivers-2-playersNic ReubenWed, 14 Aug 2024 09:24:01 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/arrowhead-emerge-with-a-bullet-pointed-peace-offering-to-pacify-mutinous-helldivers-2-playersShooterMultiplayer CompetitiveShooter: Third PersonSingle PlayerHelldivers 2PCArrowhead Game StudiosMultiplayer CooperativeThird personPS5

It’s been looking grim for Super Earth recently. I mean, not really. Multiplayer shooty Helldivers 2 is still sitting around 35,000 concurrent players, which is perfectly respectable, if only around 10% of its peak back in April. Still, a clutch of disgruntled ‘divers have recently found a novel way to protest an increasingly unpopular series of nerfs: laying down their guns and letting the bots take the damn planet.

“If Super Earth wanted to remain safe, they would stop nerfing our guns," reads one comment on the subreddit, in response to a post titled “Let the bots advance. Let the Super Earth burn.” It seems to have picked up some steam inside the actual game, too. As of earlier this week, there’s only around a thousand players actively trying to stop the bots advancing perilously close to the home planet, via Gamesradar.

Whether this is all massively overblown for the sake of a dramatic yarn or not, Arrowhead themselves have taken note of player concerns over nerfs. Yesterday, game director Mikael Eriksson unveiled a plan for the next 60 days, directly addressing player feedback over the controversial ‘Escalation of Freedom’ update.

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Helldivers 2 developers have big, opaque plans for Galactic War and that black hole you madehttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-developers-have-big-opaque-plans-for-galactic-war-and-that-black-hole-you-madeBrendan CaldwellWed, 26 Jun 2024 12:17:11 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-developers-have-big-opaque-plans-for-galactic-war-and-that-black-hole-you-madeShooterMultiplayer CompetitiveShooter: Third PersonSingle PlayerHelldivers 2Science FictionPCArrowhead Game StudiosMultiplayer CooperativeThird personPS5

Game development studio and intergalactic war ministry Arrowhead have launched a new series of written update posts for players of Helldivers 2 to help keep the war record straight. Mostly, this is the usual case of somebody on the team gathering quotes as the developers batter their fingertips against keyboards to bring you, the video gamer, fresh cannons and what-have-you. But there is some insight into what the conflict-pushers at Arrowhead have enjoyed most about player actions over the last month, including bringing an entire planet to the liberated state of post-existence.

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Comically vast Helldivers 2 patch adds to the game's Galactic strategy map while making stealth easier and armoured enemies fewerhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/comically-vast-helldivers-2-patch-adds-to-the-games-galactic-strategy-map-while-making-stealth-easier-and-armoured-enemies-fewerEdwin Evans-ThirlwellThu, 13 Jun 2024 17:33:37 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/comically-vast-helldivers-2-patch-adds-to-the-games-galactic-strategy-map-while-making-stealth-easier-and-armoured-enemies-fewerShooterMultiplayer CompetitiveShooter: Third PersonSingle PlayerHelldivers 2PCArrowhead Game StudiosMultiplayer CooperativeThird personPS5

The latest Helldivers 2 patch is memorably titled 01.000.400, but for my money, it's hovering on the brink of being one of your gold-varnished "X.0" updates of note. It adds a fair few mechanics and makes various substantial adjustments to Arrowhead and Sony's liberty-humping, cheerily xenocidal squad shooter.

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Helldivers 2 Major Order turns planet into black hole as rumours of returning Illuminate faction intensifyhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-major-order-turns-planet-into-black-hole-as-rumours-of-returning-illuminate-faction-intensifyEdwin Evans-ThirlwellMon, 03 Jun 2024 16:54:43 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-major-order-turns-planet-into-black-hole-as-rumours-of-returning-illuminate-faction-intensifyShooterMultiplayer CompetitiveShooter: Third PersonSingle PlayerHelldivers 2PCArrowhead Game StudiosMultiplayer CooperativeThird personPS5

Honestly, I turn my back on shooter-of-note Helldivers 2 for (checks calendar)... one, maybe two weeks, and you all go and transform a planet into a black hole. "You" being the players who completed the metagame's last Major Order and successfully pumped the Terminid supercolony of Meridia full of an experimental "Dark Fluid" - which Super-Earth, incidentally, pinched from the Illuminate faction during the First Galactic War, aka Helldivers 1.

Now, Meridia has imploded and become a radiant, wailing, purple-fringed disc of pure nothingness, with triumphant players rudely ejected from orbit via emergency hyperspace jump, but subsequently allowed to return and gaze into the dark heart of their victory. Great work, Inferno-plungers. I'm sure the consequences of this will be neither cosmic nor horrible.

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Helldivers 2 players rally around an unlikely hero who just wanted to make friendshttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-players-rally-around-an-unlikely-hero-who-just-wanted-to-make-friendsNic ReubenThu, 16 May 2024 11:35:23 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-players-rally-around-an-unlikely-hero-who-just-wanted-to-make-friendsShooterSonyMultiplayer CompetitiveShooter: Third PersonSingle PlayerHelldivers 2PCArrowhead Game StudiosMultiplayer CooperativeThird personPS5

When they’re not banding together to take on Sony or attempting to reinstate fired community managers, it turns out that Helldivers 2 players just want to make sure everyone feels included. Included in the co-op game’s endless war of attrition to protect Super Earth from bugs, robots, and basic awareness of military propaganda, and included in just having mates. Enter player ‘dremskiy’, whose tragic booting from a private game in which they just wanted to make friends has resulted in so many friend requests that their Steam account won’t accept any more.

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It’s not just Helldivers 2 - plenty of games owe a lot to the films of Paul Verhoevenhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/its-not-just-helldivers-2-plenty-of-games-owe-a-lot-to-the-films-of-paul-verhoevenNic ReubenWed, 15 May 2024 16:00:00 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/its-not-just-helldivers-2-plenty-of-games-owe-a-lot-to-the-films-of-paul-verhoevenShooterSonyMultiplayer CompetitiveShooter: Third PersonSingle PlayerHelldivers 2PCArrowhead Game StudiosMultiplayer CooperativeThird personPS5

Remember when Control came out and your mate Terry appeared out of nowhere to rant endlessly about how they’ve always loved brutalist architecture? Come on, Terry. No you haven’t. You spend weekends eating custard creams and watching Bake Off. You haven’t thought about brutalism since undergrad, be honest. Anyway, my version of that is Starship Troopers. As in, I’ve been waiting for a videogamey excuse to bang on about it in public for ages. Helldivers 2 is obviously as good an excuse as any, but really, I needn’t have waited so long. Official offerings like strategy game Starship Troopers: Terran Command and FPS Robocop: Rogue City aside, I reckon you can find Paul Verhoeven’s fingerprints all over games.

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Former Helldivers 2 lead writer's next game is "Fire Emblem if it were published by Annapurna"https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/former-helldivers-2-lead-writers-next-game-is-fire-emblem-if-it-were-published-by-annapurnaEdwin Evans-ThirlwellMon, 13 May 2024 14:09:50 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/former-helldivers-2-lead-writers-next-game-is-fire-emblem-if-it-were-published-by-annapurnaShooterMultiplayer CompetitiveShooter: Third PersonSingle PlayerHelldivers 2PCArrowhead Game StudiosMultiplayer CooperativeThird personPS5

The former lead writer of charming super-fascist simulator Helldivers 2 is working on a strategy and tactics RPG in the vein of Nintendo and Intelligent System's Fire Emblem games, which aren't available on PC and as such, are a complete mystery to you, a lifelong desktop warrior who would sooner cut their hand off than suffer it to brush against one of those filthy Nintendo witches, I mean Switches.

To fill you in, Fire Emblem is known and sort of celebrated for being a rich ensemble fantasy story with character permadeath. Helldivers 2, meanwhile, is a game in which people are as expendable as bullets, and the storytelling is deliberately brittle because it consists largely of clownish propaganda. Put the two sets of inspirations together, and what do you get? You get a headline, that's what. Beyond that, we can only dream.

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Helldivers 2 balancing has been "removing the fun", Arrowhead CEO frets - "just tweaking damage numbers is a blunt tool"https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-balancing-has-been-removing-the-fun-arrowhead-ceo-frets-just-tweaking-damage-numbers-is-a-blunt-toolEdwin Evans-ThirlwellThu, 09 May 2024 15:16:46 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-balancing-has-been-removing-the-fun-arrowhead-ceo-frets-just-tweaking-damage-numbers-is-a-blunt-toolShooterMultiplayer CompetitiveShooter: Third PersonSingle PlayerHelldivers 2PCArrowhead Game StudiosMultiplayer CooperativeThird personPS5

I spent this morning being pseudo-profound about Animal Well and pseudo-elegaic about Tango Gameworks, so now it's time to get back to the Real Business - being a pseud on the subject of videogame gun balancing.

The game in question is cheery co-op shooter Helldivers 2, over which Aunty Sony recently upended a can of furious worms by abruptly insisting that Steam players have a PSN account for security reasons and so, blocking players in regions where PSN isn't available. Sony have subsequently walked back the requirement following a backlash of truly hellish proportions, though I understand that the game remains unavailable on Steam in certain regions. By comparison, Arrowhead CEO Johan Pilestedt's remarks overnight that the developers might have been "removing the fun" with their gun balancing seem pretty innocuous.

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Disgruntled Helldivers 2 fans start petition to bring back fired community managerhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/disgruntled-helldivers-2-fans-start-petition-to-bring-back-fired-community-managerBrendan CaldwellWed, 08 May 2024 10:38:56 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/disgruntled-helldivers-2-fans-start-petition-to-bring-back-fired-community-managerShooterSonyMultiplayer CompetitiveShooter: Third PersonSingle PlayerHelldivers 2Science FictionPCArrowhead Game StudiosMultiplayer CooperativeThird personPS5

Fans of Helldivers 2 have started a petition asking developers Arrowhead to reinstate a fired employee in charge of community management. The employee, "Spitz", was let go following the fiasco in which Sony told PC players they would need to link their Steam and PlayStation Network accounts to continue playing the shooter. Sony and Arrowhead changed their mind about that after player backlash in the form of 100,000+ negative reviews on Steam. The kicker? Community manager "Spitz" was low-key encouraging players to continue the review bombing. This doesn't seem to have gone down well internally.

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Helldivers 2 drops PSN account linking requirement for Steam players after widespread backlashhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-drops-psn-account-linking-requirement-for-steam-players-after-widespread-backlashMatt JarvisMon, 06 May 2024 15:49:17 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-drops-psn-account-linking-requirement-for-steam-players-after-widespread-backlashShooterMultiplayer CompetitiveShooter: Third PersonSingle PlayerHelldivers 2PCArrowhead Game StudiosMultiplayer CooperativeThird personPS5

It’s been a tumultuous few days for Helldivers 2, as one of this year’s most beloved runaway hits managed to seemingly undo all of its goodwill and earn the ire of thousands of players in the blink of an eye.

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Helldivers 2 has received 100,000 negative reviews since announcing players must link Steam to a PSN accounthttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-has-received-100000-negative-reviews-since-announcing-players-must-link-steam-to-a-psn-accountGraham SmithSat, 04 May 2024 22:51:23 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-has-received-100000-negative-reviews-since-announcing-players-must-link-steam-to-a-psn-accountShooterMultiplayer CompetitiveShooter: Third PersonSingle PlayerHelldivers 2PCArrowhead Game StudiosMultiplayer CooperativeThird personPS5

Earlier this week, Helldivers 2 players on PC were told that they'd soon need to link their Steam account to a PlayStation Network (PSN) account. Two days later and the game has received 100,000 new negative reviews on Steam.

What's more, developers at Arrowhead have made several statements to say that they're on the players' side.

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Helldivers 2 PC players will soon need to link their Steam accounts to PlayStation Networkhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-pc-players-will-soon-need-to-link-their-steam-accounts-to-playstation-networkEd ThornFri, 03 May 2024 10:40:43 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-pc-players-will-soon-need-to-link-their-steam-accounts-to-playstation-networkShooterMultiplayer CompetitiveShooter: Third PersonSingle PlayerHelldivers 2PCArrowhead Game StudiosMultiplayer CooperativeThird personPS5

If there's one thing that'll rile people up more than a robot blasting them with a laser cannon, it's having to create a new account. That's something Helldivers 2 players will have to do pretty sharpish, as Arrowhead announce mandatory account linking between Steam and Playstation Network. Why? Safety and security apparently.

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Helldivers 2's next premium warbond arrives next week with new weapons, armour and winter weather capeshttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2s-next-premium-warbond-arrives-next-week-with-new-weapons-armour-and-winter-weather-capesGraham SmithThu, 02 May 2024 18:18:38 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2s-next-premium-warbond-arrives-next-week-with-new-weapons-armour-and-winter-weather-capesShooterMultiplayer CompetitiveShooter: Third PersonSingle PlayerHelldivers 2PCArrowhead Game StudiosMultiplayer CooperativeThird personPS5

Helldivers 2 oddly requires that I spend its in-game currency on items I don't want (capes, helmets, any emote other than the hug) just so I can gain access to the items I do (sniper rifles, SMGs, other weapons that ultimately turn out to be worse than what I already had).

I'm so far unconvinced by the need to pay real money to unlock a premium warbond, therefore. The trailer for the next premium warbond, coming May 9th, does contain glimpses of some weapons I'd like, however.

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Helldivers 2 patch makes life hellish indeed for smaller parties, but also makes maps more fun to explorehttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-patch-makes-life-hellish-indeed-for-smaller-parties-but-also-makes-maps-more-fun-to-exploreEd ThornMon, 29 Apr 2024 10:56:53 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-patch-makes-life-hellish-indeed-for-smaller-parties-but-also-makes-maps-more-fun-to-exploreShooterMultiplayer CompetitiveShooter: Third PersonSingle PlayerHelldivers 2PCArrowhead Game StudiosMultiplayer CooperativeThird personPS5

Hell, it turns out, isn't always a bubbly pool of magma where like, devils prod you with forks. There is a second hell in Helldivers 2, a hell made up of wartorn planets and soldiers who fight bile-spewing bugs and robots. And it is a hell that is subject to patches. One such update has nerfed a bunch of weapons including the popular quasar cannon. It's also increased the number of enemy patrols based on player numbers and tweaked the game's level generation, with the former making life more difficult in hell, and the latter possibly making things more interesting.

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Helldivers 2's rewards system is getting an overhaul so your Major Order medals show up on timehttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2s-rewards-system-is-getting-an-overhaul-so-your-major-order-medals-show-up-on-timeEdwin Evans-ThirlwellWed, 10 Apr 2024 09:38:30 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2s-rewards-system-is-getting-an-overhaul-so-your-major-order-medals-show-up-on-timeShooterMultiplayer CompetitiveShooter: Third PersonSingle PlayerHelldivers 2PCArrowhead Game StudiosMultiplayer CooperativeThird personPS5

Helldivers 2's Major Orders reward system is getting a full overhaul, following player complaints about their hard-earned medals being slow to arrive and as such, damaging their faith in managed democracy, with potentially dire consequences for their ability to massacre spiky robots and large insects.

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Helldivers 2 adds explosive crossbow, grenade pistol and other ways to blow up friends by "accident" next weekhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-adds-explosive-crossbow-grenade-pistol-and-other-ways-to-blow-up-friends-by-accident-next-weekMatt JarvisFri, 05 Apr 2024 19:02:19 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-adds-explosive-crossbow-grenade-pistol-and-other-ways-to-blow-up-friends-by-accident-next-weekShooterMultiplayer CompetitiveShooter: Third PersonSingle PlayerHelldivers 2PCArrowhead Game StudiosMultiplayer CooperativeThird personPS5

Helldivers 2 is getting a new premium warbond next week, offering some explosive new options to take into battle, aim at an enemy bug or robot, and then accidentally kill your entire squad by mistake. Or maybe that’ll just be me.

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Helldivers 2’s latest patch adds blizzards and sandstorms, rebalances bunker and personnel missionshttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2s-latest-patch-adds-blizzards-and-sandstorms-rebalances-bunker-and-personnel-missionsNic ReubenTue, 02 Apr 2024 10:59:28 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2s-latest-patch-adds-blizzards-and-sandstorms-rebalances-bunker-and-personnel-missionsShooterMultiplayer CompetitiveShooter: Third PersonSingle PlayerHelldivers 2PCArrowhead Game StudiosMultiplayer CooperativeThird personPS5

So, how was everyone’s long weekend? I don’t want to alarm anyone, but I think I may have even sensed the fading ghost of an immeasurably whisper-thin ray of sunshine at one point. Enough! Says a new patch for co-op shooter Helldivers 2. You know who else enjoys basking in the pleasant glow of mildly enjoyable weather when there’s freedoms that need fighting for? Bug sympathisers, that’s who. As such, the developers have gone and added new planetary hazards in the form of blizzards and sandstorms, alongside the usual balance tweaks.

Alongside these reminders that the war for democracy is never comfortable, the efficiently-named Patch 01.000.200 also includes a host of tweaks. Notable among these are balancing changes to the mission type ‘Retrieve Essential Personnel’, which now sounds more manageable. Enemy spawn points have been placed further away from the objective, “to give players a fairer chance of defending the location.” Additionally, fewer civilians are needed to beat the mission on higher difficulties.

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The Electronic Wireless Show podcast S3 episode 12: Helldivers 2 has a game master and this is goodhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/the-electronic-wireless-show-podcast-s3-episode-12-helldivers-2-has-a-game-master-and-this-is-goodAlice BellThu, 28 Mar 2024 16:00:00 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/the-electronic-wireless-show-podcast-s3-episode-12-helldivers-2-has-a-game-master-and-this-is-goodShooterPodcast#FatBloodMultiplayer CompetitiveShooter: Third PersonSingle PlayerHelldivers 2The RPS Electronic Wireless showPCArrowhead Game StudiosMultiplayer CooperativeThird person#ShergarsHeartSquad#BigOatsPS5

A month ago Arrowhead's CEO revealed the existence of Joel (technically J.O.E.L., in game), a game master running the galactic battle of Helldivers 2. A human being who gets up in the middle of the night to throw more robots at players if they're doing too well. We at the RPS Electronic Wireless Show podcast think this is a good thing, in broad terms, and we discuss why (but also hope Joel is allowed holidays), as well as the response the community of players has had, which is also very interesting. Plus a straw poll indicates that only one of us would enjoy be at the middle of a maelstrom of chaos and being the Helldivers GM as a job. Bet you can absolutely guess which one of us it was.

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Helldivers 2 APC-deliverer isn't gamemaster Joel, claims source, raising grim prospect of multiple Joelshttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-apc-deliverer-isnt-joel-claims-source-raising-grim-prospect-of-multiple-joelsEd ThornTue, 26 Mar 2024 13:27:11 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-apc-deliverer-isnt-joel-claims-source-raising-grim-prospect-of-multiple-joelsShooterMultiplayer CompetitiveShooter: Third PersonSingle PlayerHelldivers 2PCArrowhead Game StudiosMultiplayer CooperativeThird personPS5Yesterday I posted a story about Helldivers 2 game master Joel, which showed him delivering an unreleased vehicle to a random group of players before vanishing into the ether. But this morning came a thunderous plot twist. Someone on team RPS was contacted by a verified source with first hand knowledge of Joel's shady activities. The source has confirmed that APC-deliverer Joel isn't anything but an imposter, a fake, a generous fraud. The Real Joel, it seems, isn't so brazen with his actions.

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Helldivers 2 APC video surfaces, showing Joel personally delivering the unreleased vehiclehttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-apc-video-surfaces-showing-joel-personally-delivering-the-unreleased-vehicleEd ThornMon, 25 Mar 2024 16:19:24 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-apc-video-surfaces-showing-joel-personally-delivering-the-unreleased-vehicleShooterMultiplayer CompetitiveShooter: Third PersonSingle PlayerHelldivers 2PCArrowhead Game StudiosMultiplayer CooperativeThird personPS5

One of my favourite things about Helldivers 2 is the fact it's home to a human game master, known as "Joel", who controls the narrative. Joel's been known to leave surprises, namely mechs before they officially launched a while back. And now he's seemingly granted a group of lucky players the chance to ride about in an armoured truck outfitted with guns. Maybe, just maybe this signals their imminent release?

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Helldivers 2 Cutting Edge warbond is out, sparking fresh debate about the Illuminate factionhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-cutting-edge-warbond-is-out-sparking-fresh-debate-about-the-illuminates-factionEdwin Evans-ThirlwellThu, 14 Mar 2024 16:28:42 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-cutting-edge-warbond-is-out-sparking-fresh-debate-about-the-illuminates-factionShooterMultiplayer CompetitiveShooter: Third PersonSingle PlayerHelldivers 2PCArrowhead Game StudiosMultiplayer CooperativeThird personPS5

Helldivers 2's Cutting Edge Premium warbond, aka DLC battle pass, is now available to buy in-game, and it is chock-full of oddball gadgetry such as lightning shotguns, burst-fire laser rifles and experimental armour. As with the Arc Thrower stratagem, the lightning shotgun fires arcs of electricity that conduct between players and enemies alike, but there's a fresh armour perk, Electrical Conduit, which reduces arc damage by 95%, allowing close-knit teams of Helldivers to roll around the battlefield frazzling themselves without much penalty.

Still, I think the real star pick here is surely the Localization Confusion booster, which extends the time between enemy spawns, allowing weirdo solo players such as myself to disentangle from a dragged-out gunfight a little more gracefully.

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Helldivers 2 patch makes the toughest Terminids less frequent and easier to kill on higher difficultieshttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-patch-makes-the-toughest-terminids-less-frequent-easier-to-kill-on-higher-difficultiesEdwin Evans-ThirlwellTue, 12 Mar 2024 12:36:37 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-patch-makes-the-toughest-terminids-less-frequent-easier-to-kill-on-higher-difficultiesShooterMultiplayer CompetitiveShooter: Third PersonSingle PlayerHelldivers 2PCArrowhead Game StudiosMultiplayer CooperativeThird personPS5

The latest Helldivers 2 PC patch makes life a bit easier for players fighting the Terminids, aka monstrous hellbugs, on difficulty level 7 or higher, with tweaks to spawn rates for Chargers and Bile Titans, while increasing the spawn rates of certain other, less heavily armoured Terminids to fill the gap. The developers have also lowered the health of the Charger’s head, allowing for instant takedowns with a Recoilless Rifle or EAT-17, without (in theory) entirely doing away with the community’s treasured "leg meta", which sees players blasting the juggernaut’s limbs to sabotage it.

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Helldivers 2 doesn't really have "stealth gameplay" - "it's just that everything just has to make sense"https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-doesnt-really-have-stealth-gameplay-its-just-that-everything-just-has-to-make-senseEdwin Evans-ThirlwellTue, 12 Mar 2024 11:50:15 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-doesnt-really-have-stealth-gameplay-its-just-that-everything-just-has-to-make-senseShooterMultiplayer CompetitiveShooter: Third PersonSingle PlayerHelldivers 2PCArrowhead Game StudiosMultiplayer CooperativeThird personPS5

I've written a bit about playing Helldivers 2 as a solo diver, noting that Arrowhead's frenetic shooter holds up surprisingly well when you rudely insist on treating it like an open world stealth sim, a la Metal Gear Solid V. The developers have weighed in on this front, commenting that strictly speaking, Helldivers 2 doesn't support stealth at all. It's just designed in an "agnostic", systems-first way and this in itself makes stealth a possibility. It's also a quiet attempt to capture something of the intricacy of a full-blown military simulator, while still being a very "arcadey" game at heart, which owes a little to Arrowhead's own collective time in the military.

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If Helldivers 2 players want mechs, they need to liberate a planet riddled with Automatons firsthttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/if-helldivers-2-players-want-mechs-they-need-to-liberate-a-planet-riddled-with-automatons-firstEd ThornFri, 08 Mar 2024 11:12:49 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/if-helldivers-2-players-want-mechs-they-need-to-liberate-a-planet-riddled-with-automatons-firstShooterMultiplayer CompetitiveShooter: Third PersonSingle PlayerHelldivers 2PCArrowhead Game StudiosMultiplayer CooperativeThird personPS5

Developers Arrowhead said that Helldivers 2's mechs were "ready for deployment" a couple of days ago, but what they didn't tell us was how to unlock them. And in what I think is a rather refreshing live service twist, it's up to us honourable Helldivers to liberate the planet of Tien Kwan if we want those sweet, sweet mechs. Get me in there, chief.

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Helldivers 2 devs apologise for trolly responses to player complaints about gun balancinghttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-devs-apologise-for-trolly-responses-to-player-complaints-about-gun-balancingEdwin Evans-ThirlwellThu, 07 Mar 2024 16:17:21 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-devs-apologise-for-trolly-responses-to-player-complaints-about-gun-balancingShooterMultiplayer CompetitiveShooter: Third PersonSingle PlayerHelldivers 2PCArrowhead Game StudiosMultiplayer CooperativeThird personPS5

Arrowhead's CEO Johan Pilestedt has apologised for some spicy developer responses to players complaining about Helldivers 2's first major balancing patch, which made certain Helldivers 2 guns and equipment pieces significantly less powerful alongside other adjustments to the new shooter's armor system, maps and missions.

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Helldivers 2 patch nerfs the best guns as designer says the balancing process will be "never-ending"https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-patch-nerfs-the-best-guns-as-designer-says-the-balancing-process-will-be-never-endingEdwin Evans-ThirlwellWed, 06 Mar 2024 13:38:38 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-patch-nerfs-the-best-guns-as-designer-says-the-balancing-process-will-be-never-endingShooterMultiplayer CompetitiveShooter: Third PersonSingle PlayerHelldivers 2PCArrowhead Game StudiosMultiplayer CooperativeThird personPS5

Arrowhead have released a new Helldivers 2 update - patch 01.000.100 - which designer Alex K describes as "the first round in a never-ending series of balance changes". The patch nerfs three of what were hitherto the best Helldivers 2 guns and gear pieces - the SG-225 Breaker shotgun, the RS-422 railgun, and the SH-32 shield generator backpack, all of which break Arrowhead's pretty straightforward golden rule that "each gun has its purpose and none is strictly better than another".

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Helldivers 2's mechs are "ready for deployment" soon, say Arrowheadhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2s-mechs-are-ready-for-deployment-soon-say-arrowheadGraham SmithTue, 05 Mar 2024 21:29:36 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2s-mechs-are-ready-for-deployment-soon-say-arrowheadShooterMultiplayer CompetitiveShooter: Third PersonSingle PlayerHelldivers 2PCArrowhead Game StudiosMultiplayer CooperativeThird personPS5

It's been rumoured for a while that mechs were on their way to Helldivers 2, thanks to leaks and, y'know, official trailers. Well, now it's actually confirmed: the official Helldivers 2 Xwitter account shared today that they were "ready for deployment on the battlefield soon".

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Beware fake Helldivers 2 pages on Steam promising steep discountshttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/beware-fake-helldivers-2-pages-on-steam-promising-steep-discountsKatharine CastleFri, 01 Mar 2024 17:10:09 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/beware-fake-helldivers-2-pages-on-steam-promising-steep-discountsShooterMultiplayer CompetitiveShooter: Third PersonSingle PlayerHelldivers 2PCArrowhead Game StudiosMultiplayer CooperativeThird personPS5

It's a tale as old as time: when a great, popular game rises to the top of the Steam charts, scammers and chancers will do everything in their power to steal some of that glory for themselves. The latest victim is Helldivers 2, with scammers putting up two separate fake pages for it on Steam over the last 24 hours. Each page listed Arrowhead as the developer, and PlayStation as the publisher, along with big discounts of 50-75% off to tempt players into buying the cheap version instead of the real one.

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Helldivers 2 mech video surfaces alongside rumours of meteor Stratagems and deployable AI squad mateshttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-mech-video-surfaces-alongside-rumours-of-meteor-stratagems-and-deployable-ai-squad-matesEd ThornThu, 29 Feb 2024 10:59:15 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-mech-video-surfaces-alongside-rumours-of-meteor-stratagems-and-deployable-ai-squad-matesShooterMultiplayer CompetitiveShooter: Third PersonSingle PlayerHelldivers 2PCArrowhead Game StudiosMultiplayer CooperativeThird personPS5

We knew the Helldivers 2 team were looking ahead to the future now that they'd largely overcome the game's most significant server issues. But we weren't expecting to see new additions quite so quickly, as rideable mechs have been spotted in the wilds. When are they actually being added to the game? No idea. Do they look cool as heck? Yes, absolutely.

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New Helldivers 2 patch fixes Super Credit bugs plus "Riddler" glitch that allowed infinite orbital lasershttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/new-helldivers-2-patch-fixes-super-credit-bugs-plus-riddler-glitch-that-allowed-infinite-orbital-lasersEdwin Evans-ThirlwellWed, 28 Feb 2024 12:04:09 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/new-helldivers-2-patch-fixes-super-credit-bugs-plus-riddler-glitch-that-allowed-infinite-orbital-lasersShooterMultiplayer CompetitiveShooter: Third PersonSingle PlayerHelldivers 2PCArrowhead Game StudiosMultiplayer CooperativeThird personPS5

Hell(o), bellowing caped stooges of Super Earth! It's time for another Helldivers 2 patch. This one makes some heroic adjustments to the shooter's generally inoffensive microtransaction system, targetting a technical issue whereby Super Credits and Premium Warbonds would not show up after purchase. Huzzah! Developers Arrowhead have also nuked a rather barmy Helldivers 2 glitch that allowed for unlimited stratagem use with no cooldowns following an AFK kick.

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The best weapons in Helldivers 2https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-best-weaponsFord JamesTue, 27 Feb 2024 15:36:02 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-best-weaponsShooterMultiplayer CompetitiveShooter: Third PersonSingle PlayerHelldivers 2PCArrowhead Game StudiosMultiplayer CooperativeThird personPS5

What are the best weapons in Helldivers 2? On your ship, you'll find the armory in the corridor before you reach the bridge, which is where you can equip your various primary and secondary weapons, along with your grenade of choice. For each mission, you can equip one primary, one secondary, and one grenade type, and to begin with, your options are limited. One starter assault rifle and a single shotgun available via the standard warbond on the first page, then a marksman rifle on page two… it's slow going before you can get your hands on some of the best weapons in the game.

However, before too long, you'll be spending hard-earned medals on new weapons, including the premium warbond once you've saved up enough super credits. Here are the best weapons in Helldivers 2 in no particular order.

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Helldivers 2 devs look ahead to future “improvements” after finally conquering multiplayer server issueshttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-devs-look-ahead-to-future-improvements-after-finally-conquering-multiplayer-server-issuesMatt JarvisMon, 26 Feb 2024 19:16:36 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-devs-look-ahead-to-future-improvements-after-finally-conquering-multiplayer-server-issuesShooterMultiplayer CompetitiveShooter: Third PersonSingle PlayerHelldivers 2PCArrowhead Game StudiosMultiplayer CooperativeThird personPS5

Helldivers 2 developers Arrowhead have said they will be able to get back to working on future “improvements” for the superb bug-stomping, bot-blasting shooter after finally resolving the weeks-long server struggles caused by the game’s immense popularity.

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The best stratagems in Helldivers 2https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-best-stratagemsFord JamesMon, 26 Feb 2024 15:51:24 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-best-stratagemsShooterMultiplayer CompetitiveShooter: Third PersonSingle PlayerHelldivers 2PCArrowhead Game StudiosMultiplayer CooperativeThird personPS5

What are the best stratagems in Helldivers 2? Before every mission in Helldivers 2 you must select your stratagems, which range from airstrikes and orbital lasers to defensive fortifications and heavy weaponry. There are 47 different stratagems to unlock in total, so you have plenty of options, but to begin with, only a few will be available.

As you level up, more stratagems will unlock, though each new one must be bought with requisitions, which are earned by completing missions. So if you're wondering which are the best stratagems for you to prioritize in Helldivers 2, look no further.

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Helldivers 2 is the secret long-lost cousin of Metal Gear Solid 5https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-is-the-secret-long-lost-cousin-of-metal-gear-solid-5Edwin Evans-ThirlwellFri, 23 Feb 2024 17:44:10 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-is-the-secret-long-lost-cousin-of-metal-gear-solid-5ShooterMultiplayer CompetitiveShooter: Third PersonSingle PlayerHelldivers 2PCArrowhead Game StudiosMultiplayer CooperativeThird personPS5

I was flat on my belly on an Automaton planet the other day, being steadily driven back into the sea by waves of ramshackle AT-AT wannabes, when a switch flipped in my head amid the white noise of impending defeat, and I found myself saying "by golly, Helldivers 2 feels a lot like Metal Gear Solid 5." Sadly, there was nobody to overhear my brainfart/stroke of genius, because I was playing the game solo. But that's as it should be: if you want to appreciate what Arrowhead's Starship Troop 'em up shares with Konami's open world stealth bonanza, it's better to Helldive on your lonesome.

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Helldivers 2 is now auto-kicking AFK players to help ease server woeshttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-is-now-auto-kicking-afk-players-to-help-ease-server-woesAlice O'ConnorThu, 22 Feb 2024 16:59:12 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-is-now-auto-kicking-afk-players-to-help-ease-server-woesShooterMultiplayer CompetitiveShooter: Third PersonSingle PlayerHelldivers 2PCArrowhead Game StudiosMultiplayer CooperativeThird personPS5

As Helldivers 2 continues to be struggling with its own success, suffering wildly overloaded servers that make it sometimes tricky to even log in, a new patch today has added a feature to help alleviate the pressure. Having previously capped the number of players to 450,000, developers Arrowhead have now added an auto-kick to stop people hogging those precious slots while not playing. After 15 minutes, AFK players will now get booted. It's clearly not the big fix needed but hopefully fresh duct tape will help hold the co-op shooter together until more permanent solutions arrive.

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Helldivers 2 patch fixes quickplay and crash bugs as Arrowhead work on AFK kick option and login rate limitshttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-patch-fixes-quickplay-and-crash-bugs-as-arrowhead-work-on-afk-kick-option-and-login-rate-limitsEdwin Evans-ThirlwellWed, 21 Feb 2024 09:48:19 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-patch-fixes-quickplay-and-crash-bugs-as-arrowhead-work-on-afk-kick-option-and-login-rate-limitsShooterMultiplayer CompetitiveShooter: Third PersonSingle PlayerHelldivers 2PCArrowhead Game StudiosMultiplayer CooperativeThird personPS5

Last night I tried to host a Helldivers 2 co-op mission and the "ready up" button froze up. I spammed it in a panic while the randos in my voice channel fumed at the delay. Then I popped us out of the drop pods, attempted to quit the game in embarrassment, and the PC promptly crashed. Another blow for managed democracy!

I'm hoping that the ready up problem is one of the "various UI issues [that] may appear when the game interacts with servers" which Arrowhead are addressing in a future Helldivers 2 patch. Before that, there's patch 1.000.10, which fixes PC quickplay match-making bugs, gets rid of a crash issue when displaying mission rewards, and tunes civilian extraction mission difficulty, amongst other things. It's live now, and the full changelog is below.

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Helldivers 2 updates could bring back the first game's sneaky teleporting Illuminate factionhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-updates-could-bring-back-the-first-games-sneaky-teleporting-illuminate-factionEdwin Evans-ThirlwellTue, 20 Feb 2024 16:02:55 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-updates-could-bring-back-the-first-games-sneaky-teleporting-illuminate-factionShooterMultiplayer CompetitiveShooter: Third PersonSingle PlayerHelldivers 2PCArrowhead Game StudiosMultiplayer CooperativeThird personPS5

Nose around Helldivers 2's Galactic War map and you might notice that there's a lot of empty space. Around half the celestial sphere is given over to the dominions of the Automatons and Terminids, leaving ample room for another enemy faction to be inserted via free update or paid DLC. What could that next faction be? Surely it can't be any worse than a horde of giant bugs or a legion of robots. Surely it can't be, say, a highly advanced elder species of teleporting illusionists equipped with lightning guns and cloaking devices. Oh dear.

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Helldivers 2 makes its “hardest” difficulties harder and its actual hardest mission easier as servers strugglehttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-makes-its-hardest-difficulties-harder-and-its-actual-hardest-mission-easier-as-servers-struggleMatt JarvisMon, 19 Feb 2024 17:53:00 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-makes-its-hardest-difficulties-harder-and-its-actual-hardest-mission-easier-as-servers-struggleShooterMultiplayer CompetitiveShooter: Third PersonSingle PlayerHelldivers 2PCArrowhead Game StudiosMultiplayer CooperativeThird personPS5

I’ve been completely hooked on Helldivers 2 since diving into its exceptional Starship Troopers-y bug-blastathon last week, and I’m far from alone - so many people are playing the co-op shooter that developers Arrowhead capped the game’s servers at 450,000 simultaneous players over the weekend to try and alleviate connection and login problems caused by its enormous popularity.

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With the right settings, Helldivers 2 is ready for Steam Deck deploymenthttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-steam-deck-performance-best-settingsJames ArcherMon, 19 Feb 2024 14:58:08 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-steam-deck-performance-best-settingsShooterMultiplayer CompetitiveShooter: Third PersonSingle PlayerSteam DeckHelldivers 2Steam Deck AcademyHardwarePCArrowhead Game StudiosMultiplayer CooperativeThird personPS5

Helldivers 2 is turning out to be an absolute laugh riot of a co-op shooter; it may even have the potential to rival Deep Rock Galactic on good vibes and teammate deaths as accidental comedy masterstrokes. Even ongoing server connectivity issues haven’t done much to spoil the sense of fun, which incidentally, can also be shared on the Steam Deck.

Indeed, following a quick Proton update on Valve’s part, its previously SteamOS-incompatible anti-cheat will no longer put the kibosh on you dropping into Helldivers 2 via your Deck. I’ve been testing on both an original 512GB model and the newer Steam Deck OLED, and as long as you don’t mind dropping the quality settings, it can usually run tidily above 30fps.

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Helldivers 2 will "never" get PvP because Arrowhead don't want a toxic communityhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-will-never-get-pvp-because-arrowhead-dont-want-a-toxic-communityEdwin Evans-ThirlwellThu, 15 Feb 2024 10:52:00 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-will-never-get-pvp-because-arrowhead-dont-want-a-toxic-communityShooterMultiplayer CompetitiveShooter: Third PersonSingle PlayerHelldivers 2PCArrowhead Game StudiosMultiplayer CooperativeThird personPS5

If you've been yearning to take up arms against Super Earth as either an arachnid, a robot or a filthy (managed) democracy-hating human traitor, then I have bad news, roughneck. Helldivers 2 will "never" get a PvP mode, according to Arrowhead's CEO Johan Pilestedt. The reason? They want to avoid encouraging any toxic behaviour in the new shooter's multiplayer community.

Given that Helldivers 2 is a game with mandatory friendly fire in which you can kill team-mates by respawning right on top of them, I fear the Good Ship Camaraderie may already have sailed, but I'm very early on in my Helldiver career, and I'm... intrigued by how Arrowhead's efforts at community curation sit alongside/within the game's premise of playing a dirty space fascist locked in an endless xenophobic crusade.

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Helldivers 2 patch fixes crashes, disconnects and matchmaking bugs as devs aim to "beef up our content plans"https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-patch-fixes-crashes-disconnects-and-matchmaking-bugs-as-devs-aim-to-beef-up-our-content-plansEd ThornWed, 14 Feb 2024 11:32:45 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-patch-fixes-crashes-disconnects-and-matchmaking-bugs-as-devs-aim-to-beef-up-our-content-plansShooterMultiplayer CompetitiveShooter: Third PersonSingle PlayerHelldivers 2PCArrowhead Game StudiosMultiplayer CooperativeThird personPS5

Helldivers 2 might be a co-op shooter mixed with comedy genius, but its launch has been blighted by bugs and crashes. Over the past week the devs have deployed server hotfixes and matchmaking tweaks, although one server and rewards patch had to be rolled back to fix "significant" performance issues. Still, they're doing their utmost as the game becomes PlayStation's biggest PC release to date. And the latest patch brings with it a slew of crash fixes, reductions to disconnects, further tweaks to matchmaking, and preps things for future server improvements.

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Helldivers 2 review: a co-op shooter mixed with comedy geniushttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-reviewEd ThornTue, 13 Feb 2024 17:13:28 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-reviewShooterMultiplayer CompetitiveShooter: Third PersonSingle PlayerHelldivers 2PlayStation PCBestest BestsArrowhead Game StudiosMultiplayer CooperativePCThird personWot I ThinkPS5

Helldivers 2 is a third-person co-op shooter that's centred as much around action as it is comedy. Gigantic insects and red-eyed robots threaten the sanctity of Super Earth and, frankly, this isn't on. As a Helldiver, you must team up with your compatriots and pulverise these menaces for freedom (a shoulder-mounted laser cannon) and democracy (an aerial bombardment). Seriousness is reserved for the act of extermination, which adds tactility to the familiar motions of a shooter, making for horde management that promotes efficiency and frequent lapses of judgement in equal measure. Helldivers 2 is a slapstick masterpiece.

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Helldivers 2 server and rewards patch released then rolled back to fix "significant" performance issueshttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-server-and-rewards-patch-released-then-rolled-back-to-fix-significant-performance-issuesEdwin Evans-ThirlwellTue, 13 Feb 2024 12:03:29 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-server-and-rewards-patch-released-then-rolled-back-to-fix-significant-performance-issuesShooterMultiplayer CompetitiveShooter: Third PersonSingle PlayerHelldivers 2PCArrowhead Game StudiosMultiplayer CooperativeThird personPS5

Much like a lone Super Earther descending from orbit, only to Nope The Heck back to their spaceship after glimpsing the insect hordes, Arrowhead have released and swiftly pulled a Helldivers 2 patch designed to address the new shooter's server capacity and progression issues. The bugs were too much to handle, I guess! Lord, this news post practically writes itself.

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Helldivers 2 overtakes God of War and Spider-Man to become PlayStation’s biggest PC release to datehttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-overtakes-god-of-war-and-spider-man-to-become-playstations-biggest-pc-release-to-dateMatt JarvisMon, 12 Feb 2024 19:53:49 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-overtakes-god-of-war-and-spider-man-to-become-playstations-biggest-pc-release-to-dateShooterMultiplayer CompetitiveShooter: Third PersonSingle PlayerHelldivers 2PCArrowhead Game StudiosMultiplayer CooperativeThird personPS5

Helldivers 2 has become the biggest PlayStation game released on PC yet, at least going by the number of simultaneous players on Steam, as it doubled the previous record of concurrent players set by God of War.

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Helldivers 2 updates target server and reward issues as Arrowhead apologise for rocky launchhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-updates-target-server-and-reward-issues-as-arrowhead-apologise-for-rocky-launchEd ThornMon, 12 Feb 2024 11:57:29 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-updates-target-server-and-reward-issues-as-arrowhead-apologise-for-rocky-launchShooterMultiplayer CompetitiveShooter: Third PersonSingle PlayerHelldivers 2PCArrowhead Game StudiosMultiplayer CooperativeThird personPS5

Helldivers 2 is yet another example of a predominantly co-op game being a victim of its own success. Since its launch, the servers have buckled under the weight of keen conscripts ready to exterminate some bugs. There's been frequent disconnects, matchmaking issues, and post-game rewards not showing up for some folks. But Arrowhead CEO Johan Pilestedt has offered some comfort, saying that they've popped three hotfixes live to fix some of these issues.

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Helldivers 2 hotfix on the way to address crashes, matchmaking errors and "mixed" Steam reviewshttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-hotfix-on-the-way-to-address-crashes-matchmaking-errors-and-mixed-steam-reviewsGraham SmithThu, 08 Feb 2024 23:23:42 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-hotfix-on-the-way-to-address-crashes-matchmaking-errors-and-mixed-steam-reviewsShooterMultiplayer CompetitiveShooter: Third PersonSingle PlayerHelldivers 2PCArrowhead Game StudiosMultiplayer CooperativeThird personPS5

Helldivers 2 launched earlier today and has been sat at the top of the Steam sales charts, with a healthy 60,000+ currently in-game. Alas, the co-op shooter also has a "Mixed" user review rating on the platform, thanks in part to optimisation and matchmaking issues.

Developers Arrowhead say they're working on a hotfix to address the issues as fast as possible.

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Helldivers 2 has human game masters who tweak your co-op fights in real-timehttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-has-human-game-masters-who-tweak-your-co-op-fights-in-real-timeGraham SmithTue, 06 Feb 2024 21:42:05 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-has-human-game-masters-who-tweak-your-co-op-fights-in-real-timeShooterMultiplayer CompetitiveShooter: Third PersonSingle PlayerHelldivers 2PCArrowhead Game StudiosMultiplayer CooperativeThird personPS5

Helldivers 2 pits co-op players against swarms of computer-controlled aliens and robots in the context of a vast, ongoing galactic war. There might be someone else in battles with the power to tip the scales, however: an omniscient game master, employed by developers Arrowhead, who can monitor the fight and drop in buffs and debuffs to change the flow of the fight.

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Helldivers 2 details its spaceship and top-level "Galactic War" ahead of next month's releasehttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-details-its-spaceship-and-top-level-galactic-war-ahead-of-next-months-releaseGraham SmithTue, 23 Jan 2024 22:53:25 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-details-its-spaceship-and-top-level-galactic-war-ahead-of-next-months-releaseShooterMultiplayer CompetitiveShooter: Third PersonSingle PlayerHelldivers 2PCArrowhead Game StudiosMultiplayer CooperativeThird personPS5

Helldivers 2 will crashdown on our planet's surface on February 8th, 2024, and turns the topdown co-op alien shooter into a flashier, fancier third-person version of the same. A new trailer release today details how its 'Galactic War' systems work - that is, the macro-scale conflict within which your missions and bug hunts take place.

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Helldivers 2 has been slightly delayed, will drop its pods in February 2024https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-has-been-slightly-delayed-will-drop-its-pods-in-february-2024Graham SmithSat, 16 Sep 2023 20:27:41 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-has-been-slightly-delayed-will-drop-its-pods-in-february-2024ShooterShooter: Third PersonHelldivers 2Arrowhead Game StudiosPCPS5

Bad news: sci-fi co-op bug hunt Helldivers 2 is no longer coming in 2023. Good news: it now has a more specific release date of February 8th, 2024. That's progress.

That's it, that's the news, but there is also a new trailer below if you're interested.

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Helldivers 2 explains how its newly third-person chaotic co-op will workhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-explains-how-its-newly-third-person-chaotic-co-op-will-workGraham SmithThu, 06 Jul 2023 19:46:24 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-explains-how-its-newly-third-person-chaotic-co-op-will-workShooter: Third PersonPS5Helldivers 2PC

There must be no games but third-person action games, said Sony. And so it was. Helldivers 2 is the next victim, trading the co-op sci-fi shooter's from-above camera view for a from-behind perspective that really screams 'hey it's every other game'.

A new post and a new trailer from developers Arrowhead explaining how Helldivers 2's combat and co-op works is, at least, an opportunity to differentiate itself.

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Please stop it with all the bland, new multiplayer shooters that will die in six monthshttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/please-stop-it-with-all-the-bland-new-multiplayer-shooters-that-will-die-in-six-monthsKatharine CastleThu, 25 May 2023 19:20:43 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/please-stop-it-with-all-the-bland-new-multiplayer-shooters-that-will-die-in-six-monthsShooterFairgamesMultiplayer CompetitiveFoamstarsPlayStation ShowcaseShooter: Third PersonSingle PlayerHelldivers 2ConcordFirst personiOSPCMarathonBungiePS5

2023 has seen the closure of more big multiplayer games than, well, any time I can recall in recent memory. One after the other, developers' dreams of making the next big Destiny-like have gradually collapsed in on themselves. Like a deflated concertina, their last honks of life have been crushed down to desperate, fizzling squeals as servers lie empty and the cost of maintaining them spirals out of control. Some are still hanging in there, sure, but the genre as a whole feels like it's at a tipping point - and I couldn't help but sigh as five more multiplayer shooters joined the fray last night as part of Sony's PlayStation Showcase.

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